Elevating dolly



A. J. TAYLOR ELEVATING DOLLY June 14, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Nov. 4, 1955 MAZ/Wada mw June 14, 1960 A. J. TAYLOR ELEVATING DOLLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 RM ANN .EVRM

June 14, 1960 A. J. TAYLOR ELEVATING noLLy 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Drignal Filed Nov. 4. 1955 44a/vr June 14, 1960 A. J. TAYLoR 2,940,769

ELEVATING DoLLY Original Filed Nov. 4, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 2,940,769 Patented June 14 A1-9.60

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2,940,769 ELEVA'TING DoLLY -Allan J. Taylor, Pacific Palisades, Calif., assigner to Northrop Corporation, Va corporation of California 'This application is a division' of our copencling application Serial No. 544,850, led ,November .4, v1-955, now Patent 2,896,909, which is directed .to material Yhandling equipment. Y

This invention relates to materialhandling eqnipment and more particularly to elevating type .dollies especially useful in the'handling and positioning of heavyequipment.

Frequently it is necessary to impart various movements, including lateral and longitudinal movements, to equipment mounted on and positioned by means of an elevating dolly, This isparticularly true in the aircraft industry where elevating dollies are extensively lutilized to'position equipment and components in and on aircraft structures. Although means are incorporated in most elevating dollies for imparting roll, pitch and yaw movements Vto components mounted thereon, no provision, to the best of applicants knowledge, 'has as yetl been inorporated in elevating dollies enabling -lateral'movements to be imparted to components mounted thereon without extensive repositioning Vand manipulation of the dolly. Also'the situation frequently arises requiring the elimination of relative movementbetween a supporting surface and struture on which components or equipment are to be mounted. A situation of this type frequently occurs when a dolly equipped with pneumatic tires is utili'zedjin carrying out positioning operations on moving vehicles .such .as ships.

Another Objectis to provide an elevating vtype dllyihe base portion of which may be lowered to Vcontacta sur porting surface and thereby provide a iirm,.sta'ble.founda tion for the dolly.

Another object is to provide an elevating type dolly incorporating means whereby the dollymay be steadiedlto provide a rm, stable .foundationthe'refor other .than the stability provided by the base portion.

Another object is to provide an elevating type dolly which is simple in design yet rugged .in construction, economical to manufacture, and which may be easily adapted to any purpose for which it is intended.

Although the characteristic features of thepresentinvention are particularly pointed out in the ,appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which .it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application andin which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View I.ofthe felevatingidolly disclosed herein,

Figure 2 is ia partial plan View of the dollyshowniin Figure 1.

Figures 3 Vand 4 are side :and Vend elevational views, respectively, of the dolly shown-in Figure lwithpotion's thereof broken away lin each instance.

'Figure `5 is a diagrammatic showingof the vhydraulic system employed 'inthe dolly of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a detail view of `a typical radius rod utiliied with the dolly of Figure 1.

Referring Yto the drawings and particularly Figure lan elevating dolly 11 of the type disclosed `herein is shown. .The dolly 11 includes a base assembly -12, an .elevating assembly 14, a crade assembly 16, fore and 'ait scissor type linkage Yassemblies 17 and 18, respectively, hydraulic equipment 19 (notidentiied in Figure 1) and wheel linkage assemblies 21 Vand22.v i

'The assembly 12 consists of a plurality of elongated channel members 24428 inclusive, joined together ,by corner castings 29-32, inclusive, toqprovide a substantially coplanar Ylower frame member 23 of substantiallyrecta'n'gular cniiguration as viewed fin ,Figure 2. The'olannel member `28 lextends between the Aside meinbes .24 andZS intermediate their end v'poi-tions to pr'ovidef'rigidify to Vthe framemeniber 23. Spaced np'standinglu'g poi-'tions 33 and 34 extend from each of the castings 29-32, inclu sive, to provide pivotal supports for the inner V.ends @of upper :and lower supporting links 36 and 37, respectively, of the wheeljlinkage assemblies 21 and 22. Additional spaced upstandingportions 38 and 39 extend from each of the corner castings to provide pivotal supports for .the lower links 41 of 'theessemblies 17 and 18.

The base assembly 12 and elevating lassembly 14 joined together for relative vertical movement by .the aforementioned fore and aft linkage assemblies 17 dhd18, respectively. Each of these linkage assemblies consists ofthe previously referred to lower links 41 and upper links '63, respectively. ln addition the upper links .of ,the assemblies 17 eachV have an extension 73 Vxedly ,scented thereto, as by welding or the like, and having agslifght angular relationship with respect to the link 63 VVsub ahtially as shownin Figure 1. Also the assemblies 1l 1ncludean auxilarylik 64. Theassemblies 17 and'li'will hereinafter be referred to .as'the main'and auxiliary linkage assembliesJrespectively. l

Except -for the extensions 73 and auxiliary links 64;` construction vof the `assemblies 117 and 1S, and the .method of attaching these assemblies'to the assemblies 14 an 23, are 'the same, therefore, a description of the as's'embliv I7 will be applicable .to 'the Vassemblies .18 except as noted above.

Referring thentothe main linkage assemblies, Yorie'eud of eachv of the links '41 'is .attached to the spaced portions 38 and 39, extending Yfrom .therespective corner castings 29 and 31, for pivotal movement about an axis D (Figure 3L). Depending from the other end of each of the ,links 41 is a plateflike element 68 between which a cross` member V66 extends in xed relationship. One end of each of the links 63 is --secured to end portions V,of `the assembly `14 for pivoted movement'about an axis .Eas best seen inFigure 3. 'Ihe otherends of the links V63V are mounted forgpivoted movement about an axis 4F located in upstanding portions 72 'formed at the ends of the links 41 which arespaced from the castings 29 and 31. 3A tubular cross-mernber '67 also extends 'between and `is xedly secured to ,platelike elements V76 which depend from the endsofthe links 63 which areattached to the assembly '14. 'Pivotally "attached to and extendin between the .cross-members and 67 at lthe midpo: vs thereoffisa hydraulic'actua'tori75. The actuatorjincludes a cylinder 77 Vand piston rod'78 and is equipped with'a conventional safety vdevice 79 functioning to prevent ctuator'collapsein the event of uid failure. l

V'l'hefwheel andV linkage assemblies f21are lct r-,at diagonally opposite corners .of 'the frame L23 and assemblies ,22 are located atthe other diagonally Yopposite corners. The'upper links 36 of'the assemblies ,'2f11ar'e pivotally attachedto the spaced portions .'33 and 34lby means of continuous "from wheufsu'sjaasien pins'31 extending therethroiig'h. The upper links"36 'ofthe assemblies 22 are'lk'v'is'e' Y'3:4 of the corner castings. Y

movement between the -two links 37.located respectively aftv ends of thejframe'23. The outer Y 'i castings 29-32 by alternate pivotal meansy 109.

pivotally attachedY tothe portions 33 and 34 by noncontinuous pins 82 the inner ends of which are secured toV the cylinders of hydraulic actuators 84 as by welding or V-tiie likewThe lower'links 37 of the assembl ies. 21 and .22

farexedly secured to torque tubes 83 .(Fig`uref7') which 'are also pivotally mounted in thespaced portions 33 and The tubes V83 transmit angular partedto the links 36 and 37 by means of the actuators VMas presently explained. Y

`The dolly 11 is steered by means o I'Ja tow bar 89. The

Y 4 122 and bypass valves 123,.the latter being positioned in the lines extending between theV pump 1512 land valves 114, allow uid to by-pass the actuators 75 and 84 in the event excessive fluid pressure develops within theV hydraulic system.

By utilizing portions'loftthehydraulic system 19 the assembly 12 may ,bemovedbetween an elevated position and a lowered or bottomed position; in the elevated position the frame 23 is located a predetermined fdistance above the surface on which the wheels 86 lare resting; ln thelowered or bottomed position theV frameY 23 rests on on the aforementioned surface.. Thus in the klowered positionthe'frame 23 provides a r'm'stable foundation 'tow bar is attached to a clevis 91 for-pivotalmovement about a horizontal while theclevis is attached tothe member for. pivotal `n :tovementabouta vertical axis.

Extending between the leg portions of the clevis 91 and pivotallyA attached thereto isY a`tie rod.92. .The end portions ofthe rod 92 Vare pivotally attached to respective arms of U shaped members 93 which are mounted on the castings 29 andV 31, respectively, Vfor pivotal movementy aboutja vertical axis. A radius rod 94 extends betweenanarrn projecting from each ofthe members 9 3 and an projecting from the axleof each of the front ofball joints 9 6 and 97, respectively. The aft assemblies 21 and 22 are alsoprovidedwith positioning rodsY 98 ows fromV theactuato/rsiir to Ythe reservoir 111;' TheY force of gravity'acts to.l ower,the' dollyuntilthe frame 23V wheels 86.k Each of the radius rods'94 are attached to members93 and the axles 85 ofthe front Wheels'by means similar'to the radius rods 94. Therrods 98, however,.are Y not used during normal .steering operations and are normally attached to the member 27 by initial Ypivotal means constituting ball and socket type joints 9 9..A y

aEacn' ofthev rods 94 and 98 arelpro 'ded with quick disconnect means ata location intermediate their ends. A typicalquickdisconnect is shown in Figure 6 in which bne'oflthe'rods 94 is used forillustrative purposes.. .The

' disconnect consists of asleeve 102 normally urged to the position shown by solid construction by a spring 103.

' Therod 94 consists of two portions 104 andv106 joined by mating saw-tooth structure formed therein as indicatedY at 107. With the sleeve 102.moved.to the position'indicated by phantom construction it willbe apparent that' the rodse104 andV 106 may be readily separated.; Stub rods 108 having saw-tooth means formedat their free ends vfor'the dolly 11. Resilient movements due to pneumatic tires which may be mounted on the wheels 86 Vare effectively elimiuated'. Also 'relativeY swaying movements, occurring at such times as the dolly 11 may be utilized on board ship to positive armaments or the like,is alsoetectively eliminated. 'v l Assuming the asse bly 12 is'in its raised `positionand it isV desired to move it to its lowered position levers 117 are positioned so,that a restricted amountof fluid is in contact with the surface on which the. wheels 86 are resting. The assembly 12.may'subsequently be returned to its raised position upon adjustment of the valves 114 and actuation ofthe pumpsY 112. In this connection it should be understood that angular movementsimparted by the actuators S4 tothe links37, associated with the assemblies 22, are Vtransxru'ttelto the links 37, associated with the assemblies 421, through the torque tubes 83.1' f The relationship of the members 36, 37 end l, with respect to the yframe member 2 31and thelwheels 85, is .such thatY these members do not impart movement such as caster, camber,fetc. to the wheels 86 during the raising or lowering of the frame member 23.' Also the relationship of theabove members ist such that'the possibility ofl bindare .pivotally `attached at their. opposite ends to .the

".Upon Vseparation'of the rods 94 and198 it`will be apparent that the'wheels 86 may bepivoted through an angle of ninety degrees (90) Yto a vposition-in which the central vertical planes ofV the wheels` 'are normal to the'longitu- Y unal axis of the dolly 11, subst-.mamy asV shown by phantom construction in Figure 2. YThe rodl portions, Yattached vto vthe wheels 86, may then be'secured to the stub It will be apparentthat this construction perwill be extremely useful in instances where it is not possibletofmove tbe dolly in alongitudinalrdirection into a desired position'. e

The 'aforementionedrhydraulic system 179y includes a ing ofthe members 36,737 and 94 is precluded as the basemember 2 3 is raised and lowered.

The relationship ofthe members 36, 37, and 94, as Vref ferred to above, will be apparent by referring to Figure 7. In Ythis figure the members 36, 37, 94, andV associated members are shown in a projected relationship on a verticalplane containing the longitudinal'axis oi -the frame member`23. The linesA, B, and C represent center lines extending betweenthe respective pivotalY points of Ythe links 36, 37,.and the rod 94, It'will be noted that theprojected lengths of the lines A, B,.and C .are equal and bear a parallel relationship with .respect to each other. Further this relations'liipY remains ylas shownV duringrelative movement of the member 23`withrespect to the wheels 86 as the'Y member 23 is.raised or lowered. For

' any. position'of the frame'member 23 the horiao'n'talclis-l tances between the-respective pivotal points oftlrezrod .94

and links 36 and 37 on the member V23and the .respective pivotal points of Athe'rod 94 -and links 36 and 37 on the axle 85 are equal. Accordingly the lines A, B, and C,

`- considered YVwith verticallines extending through respective uidgreservoir 111, pumps 112, selector valves 1124,'andV the actuators 75 and84 as schematicallyfshown in. Figure 15." The reservoir,pumps, and selector valveslll, 112,

and114, respectively, are mounted .within `the member 24. Handles 116, for actuating the, pumps 112, and control levers 117, forl regulating the tlow of lluidY-throughrthev valves 114,'a'1'eV located ina readily a'ccessible'position Y adjacent the upper surface of the member 24. l Flexible 4' tubing 118-121, inclusive, provide .uid communication between the valves Y114l andA actuators and 84. Lines pivotal points, constitute a parallelograrn Vtype movement whichfdoe's not impart undesirable movements `to the wheels 86 and Yprecludes the possibility of 'binding between the wheel linkages and the rods 94 and 9S;

InYV addition to the steadying means described/above, i.e, lowering theframe 23 Vinto contacting' relationship with a supporting surface, a steady 4rest unit 124 is mounted in a vertical Vattitude each of the corner` castings 29-32 inclusive. Each of the'units 1274. Vconsists 'l of a cylindricalwv stem 126 and-footer pad portion -127 as through `au upstanding collar128 formed on theY corner bestseen in FigurerS. The stem 126 passes through an aperture formed in the corner castings and extends castings.y Mating apertures are provided in the Vstems V126 and collars 128 to receive a pin.129 whereby the unit 124 may 'be secured in a plurality of vertical positions.` Y

Y l l 1 In the uppermost position of the unit 124 the pads 127 are recessed in the lower portion of the corner castings. It will be apparent that the units -124 may be lowered a predetermined distance below the assembly 12 and secured in this position by the pins 29. Accordingly upon lowering the assembly l2 the dolly 11 will come to rest on the units 124 rather than the base members 23. The steady rest units 24 will be especially useful at such times as the dolly il is used on movable surfaces, e.g. the deck of ships and the like.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed coniprises a preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In an elevating type dolly, the combination com prising: a rectangular base structure; a plurality of wheel assemblies each including a wheel, linkage assemblies including upper and lower links and an axle; said upper and lower links being pivotally attached to said axles and the respective corners of said base structure; and power means extending between said base structure and linkage assemblies functioning when actuated to move said base structure between elevated and lowered positions in which said base structure is positioned a predetermined distance above a horizontal surface on which the wheels of said wheel assemblies are resting, and in which said base structure is resting on said horizontal surface, respectively.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim l: further characten'zed in that said linkage assemblies are attached to said axles by ball and socket type pivotal connections permitting movement of said wheels about a vertical axis through an angle of at least ninety degrees.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim l: further characterized in that the relationship of said linkage assemblies with respect to said base structure is such that a continuous line, extending between and being normal to the pivotal axes of said upper and lower links with re` spect to said base structure and the points about which said upper and lower-links pivot on said axle, defines a parallelogram the ends of which are always vertical regardless of the position of said wheel assemblies with respect to said base structure.

4. In an elevating dolly, the combination comprising: a rectangular base structure; a wheel assembly including a wheel mounted at each corner of said base structure normally supporting the latter in an elevated position at a predetermined distance above a horizontal surface on which the wheels of said wheel assemblies are resting; power means associated with said wheel assemblies functioning when actuated to move said base structure between said elevated position and a lowered position in which said base structure is in contacting relation with said horizontal surface; steering means for the Wheel assemblies located at one end of said base structure embracing a pair of separable rods pivotally attached to and extending between initial means mounted on said base structure and respective wheel assemblies located at said one end of said base structure; a pair of separable positioning rods pivotally attached to and extending between the wheel assemblies located at the other end of said base structure and initial means on said base structure functioning to normally maintain the wheels of the last named wheel assemblies in planes parallel to a vertical plane extending longitudinally of said base structure; and means pivotally attached to said base structure to which the portions of said positioning rods secured to said wheel assemblies may be attached to position and maintain all wheels of said wheel assemblies in vertical planes normal to said vertical plane extending longitudinally of said base structure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

